Blooms of Holland owner dies at age 54

Roy Jahn, who built a small floral business into a comprehensive special events and catering enterprise, died Thursday. He was 54.

Originally from Holland, Jahn and Desiree Goetz in 1980 opened the Blooms of Holland flower shop on Prince Avenue, which continues today in a renovated historic structure in different location on Prince.

In 1999, Jahn and Traci Long opened Blooms of Holland Catering and refurbished the Hardeman-Sams House on South Milledge Avenue. They also contracted for the food service at the Garden Room Cafe at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia.

Long, who is no longer a partner in the venture but who maintained a business association and friendship with Jahn, described him as a ''visionary.''

Long said that while Jahn loved the floral side of his ventures, he held a stronger passion for handling event planning for special occasions.

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Roy Joseph Carl Jahn

''He loved seeing the happiness that came from a wedding or Valentine's event,'' she said. ''What he did brought joy, and he was young in spirit.''

Long said she intends to establish a trust fund in Jahn's name with the Athens-Clarke Heritage Foundation.

''He did so much. ... He made a huge gift to the community with historic preservation,'' Long said, citing the Hardeman-Sams House, the Blooms of Holland building, his relocated farmhouse in Watkinsville and other projects.

Jahn also served as the catalyst for the formation in 2001 of the Athens Wedding Professionals association, which brought together people whose professional work relates to weddings.

Photographer Wingate Downs, who helped with the creation of that association, said, ''Roy ... wanted everybody to work together to help each other. That enlightened me.''

Jahn's son, Robert Jahn, who works in the hospitality industry in Charleston, S.C., said his father's ''passion for life and for business and relationships is what he was all about, essentially. He had a drive and energy not a lot of people have. He was my best friend and a teacher.''

Memorial services will be held at 5 p.m. Sunday at Lord & Stephens Funeral Home West on Jimmie Daniel Road off Georgia Highway 316 in Bogart.